UHS Invites Students & Parents to Connect at New Spring Event
Umatilla High School is already looking toward the 22-23 school year and developing improved connection between the school and its families. They are planning a UHS Family Night on Friday, May 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Umatilla Marina. The event is intended to make connections between parents of UHS students, the students themselves and high school administrators, teachers and staff.
Marisa Gonzalez, who teaches health, P.E. and weights at UHS, is spearheading the event. She said her goal for Family Night is for parents to find a UHS staff member who they can feel comfortable relating to and using as a resource to ask questions of during their student’s high school career. “This is a night for parents to find ways to be a part of our school community, find out what opportunities there are for their child and connect with the people their student sees every day,” Gonzalez said.
Family Night will include carnival games, a 3 v 3 basketball tournament, a taco truck from Acapulco Tacos, music, information tables about UHS sports, clubs and activities plus resources for families available through school.
April Dirksen, UHS Vice Principal, said when students are in elementary school, parents usually have a strong connection to their child’s school, then that connection decreases during middle school and even more so at high school. She sees Family Night as a chance for parents to have fun with their teenagers, learn about extracurricular options available for their child and meet the staff at UHS. “The connection between school-student-parent can really contribute to student success, and that’s our focus.”
All 9th through 12th grade students/families are invited to Family Night. For more information, call Umatilla High School at 541-922-6525.